I chatted with Jason Burrell, the interim town manager for Canton, and he confirmed that her husband, William McDowell’s name was on the deed.

Knight, a legendary R&B soul singer, purchased a home in Fairview. We reported that purchase in 2005.

UPDATE: I chatted with McDowell, who confirmed the project for the former Reynolds School. He grew up 20 yards away from the historic school, where his mom was a cook and his uncle a stand-out football star. He wants the community to be involved in the development of the community center and plans to host a series of public meetings about plans. And he and Gladys Knight are working toward a benefit concert this spring or summer to help pay for the estimated $2 million vision.

I’m writing a story about the project for tomorrow’s paper with even more details.

Here’s that information from our archives, which goes into some good details about McDowell and his local roots.

FAIRVIEW — Grammy-award winning artist Gladys Knight has bought a house in Fairview with her husband, William McDowell, a poet and former student at Pisgah High School.

The 4,500-square-foot house, bought in December for around $900,000, sits like a stark white jewel among 20 acres of rolling pasture and gorgeous mountain views.

Knight’s husband has relatives in Canton, including basketball standout Elliot McDowell, who has signed to play college ball at Mars Hill. McDowell acknowledged that he and Knight live in Fairview — at least part-time when not in Las Vegas.

Over the years, stories have circulated about various celebrities reportedly moving to the area, most of which did not pan out. Andie MacDowell moved to Biltmore Forest in 1998 and celebrities have been spotted visiting town. Knight now joins MacDowell as a bona fide mountain-dwelling celeb.

The couple bought the house from Mack and Lois Buckner, who now live in Hendersonville. The Buckners said they had no idea until receiving the contract that a celebrity had bought the property. When she read the name Gladys Knight on the contract, Lois Buckner was shocked.

“I had to catch my breath,” she said. “She was popular in my day, and I always liked her music. They were nice as they could be. She’s a wonderful and gracious person.”

So far, Knight and William McDowell have kept a low profile in Western North Carolina, although they have been spotted at Elliott McDowell’s games.

Knight, who made it big in the 1960s with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album in 2002 for her solo album, “At Last.”

Knight is also involved in charity work. She has devoted herself to such causes as the American Cancer Society and the Minority AIDS Project.